The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE)- Lanao del Sur’s central nursery in Marawi City houses thousands of tree seedlings being distributed to interested organizations in the province. (Photo from MENRE)
LANAO DEL SUR—The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE) aims to distribute 200,000 tree seedlings in the province in the last quarter of 2024 to promote its tree-growing initiative.
Provincial ENRE Officer (PENREO) Asmarie Labao emphasized the urgent need for collective community action in strengthening the province’s natural resilience.
“While we have our own versions of the Sierra Madre—the Piyagayungan Range and Gurain Range—to shield us [Lanao del Sur areas] from the severe impacts of typhoons, we cannot rely on them entirely because they alone cannot fully protect us from extreme weather events,” said PENRE Officer Labao.
“Our forests need to be strengthened through reforestation efforts to better absorb heavy rains and prevent landslides and floods,” he emphasized.
Among the target areas for this tree-growing initiative are low-lying municipalities such as Butig, Lumba Bayabao, Maguing, Bubong, Kapai, Pualas, Marogong, Madalum, Madamba, and Piagapo.
Community ENRE Officer (CENREO) Asnawi Dataman said MENRE encouraged community groups, schools, local government units, and other organizations planning reforestation projects to participate in the program.
“Prospective recipients need to submit a letter of intent, details of the intended planting location, and a prepared tree guard setup. The partnership will be formalized with a Memorandum of Agreement, and MENRE will conduct site visits to ensure suitable conditions and compatibility of tree species with the soil and local environment,” said CENREO Dataman.
Interested parties may visit MENRE’s PENRE Office at Old Capitol Drive, Matampay, Marawi City to learn more and obtain the necessary forms to participate in this initiative.
In 2023, MENRE distributed 73,000 tree seedlings, including native, commercial, and fruit-bearing varieties, as part of its ongoing commitment to environmental restoration. By the end of 2024, the MENRE-LDS PENREO aims to distribute 200,000 seedlings. As of writing, they have distributed 86,000 seedlings.
This mass distribution of tree seedlings in the province aligns with the ongoing observance of National Environmental Awareness Month in November, which aims to foster environmental education and encourage sustainable practices among Filipinos. (Norjana Malawi/BIO)
